Robert Fico, May 15, 2025. PHOTO: BRANISLAV RAČKO / News and Media / Profimedia
Slovakia will not participate in any European Union program aimed at financing military aid to Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Sunday, according to Reuters and Agerpres.
Slovakia stopped state military aid to Ukraine when Robert Fico's government came to power in 2023, but still allowed commercial sales. Fico has different opinions from the European Union states regarding the war, saying that the solution is not on the battlefield.
EU leaders agreed on Thursday to meet Ukraine's “pressing financial needs” for the next two years, but delayed approval of a plan to use frozen Russian assets to finance a 140 billion euro loan to Kiev.
The EU deals a new blow to Russia, on the day of the European Council in Brussels / Intense discussions to use Russian money to support Kiev / Moscow's response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the money could be used immediately to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, air fleet and frontline positions.
“I refuse to allow Slovakia to participate in any financial scheme aimed at helping Ukraine manage the war and military spending,” Fico said in a televised press conference.
Fico also criticized EU sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, saying they hurt Europe more.
Slovakia and Hungary, both buyers of Russian energy resources, now have to deal with the effects of US sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, which are due to come into effect next month.
Asked on Sunday about these risks, Fico said that the Slovak refinery Slovnaft is part of the Hungarian oil and gas group MOL and is not a buyer of oil.
“Right now, we don't assess the situation that way,” Fico said in his first comments since the United States announced the sanctions last week.
On Friday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Budapest was working to find a way to circumvent US sanctions.
